NOTES BY GOLDEN

STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN – SUNDAY APRIL 22, 2018


    

BOLT D’ORO WORKS FOR KENTUCKY DERBY
PRINCE OF ARABIA READY FOR CALIFORNIAN
MILLER HAS 3 FOR THE MONEY IN SAN SIMEON
McANALLY IS SIDELINED WITH BROKEN ANKLE


BOLT D’ORO IN SEVEN FURLONG DERBY BREEZE

            Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bolt d’Oro worked seven furlongs under Victor Espinoza in 1:24.20 at 7:45 Sunday morning for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

“He looked good to me,” owner/trainer Mick Ruis said after the drill.

Santa Anita clockers gave Bolt d’Oro fractional times of 35, 46.60, 58.80 and 1:11.40.

A $630,000 son of Medaglia d’Oro, Bolt d’Oro was second by three lengths to undefeated Run for the Roses favorite Justify in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

“Bolt felt great,” said Espinoza, who will be seeking his fourth Kentucky Derby victory. “It was pretty awesome. It was exactly what I expected. We wanted 1:24 so the clock in my head is still working. That was what Mick wanted me to do.

“We started at a decent pace all the way to the lane when I encouraged him a bit, and a little past the wire I slowed him down somewhat. I didn’t want to take the last turn too quick, so it was perfect . . . I know we’re in good shape and I’m getting excited as the race gets closer.”



PRINCE OF ARABIA SET FOR GRADE II CALIFORNIAN

Prince of Arabia returns to stakes competition next Saturday in the Grade II, $200,000 Californian for three-year-olds and up at a mile and an eight.

A five-year-old Mineshaft horse trained by Jim Cassidy for principal client Deron Pearson who campaigns as DP Racing, Prince of Arabia won an overnight race March 23 under Stewart Elliott, who retains the mount on Saturday.

With six wins for the Spring Meet, including two yesterday, Elliott is the leading rider through five racing days.

“It’s a good spot,” Cassidy said of the Californian. “The horse is pretty straightforward, but he’s taken a long time to come around. He’s had foot problems here and there, but other than that, he’s good.”

Probable for the Californian: Dr. Dorr, Joe Talamo; Full of Luck, Flavien Prat; Prince of Arabia, Stewart Elliott; and The Lieutenant, Drayden Van Dyke.



MILLER PLANS TO ENTER THREE IN SAN SIMEON

Peter Miller, who sent out Bobby Abu Dhabi to win Saturday’s Grade II Kona Gold Stakes under Victor Espinoza, plans to enter three horses in next Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes for three-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf: Anatolian Heat, Belvoir Bay and Conquest Tsunami.

“This will be Anatolian Heat’s first stakes race but he’s doing really well right now and he loves the hill,” Miller said of the five-year-old gelded son of the late, great Unusual Heat.

San Simeon probables are Anatolian Heat, no rider; Belvoir Bay, Tyler Baze; Conquest Tsunami, Espinoza; Double Touch, no rider; Isotherm, no rider; and Masked, no rider.



PAM GOMEZ TO HOST ‘EXTREME BARREL RACING’ EVENT IN NORCO

            Pam Gomez, wife of the late Hall of Fame jockey Garrett Gomez, will host an “Extreme Barrel Racing” event this Wednesday, April 25, in Norco at Ingalls Park.

Sponsored by Santa Anita Park and presented by the Gomez family in loving memory of Garrett, the event is a great way for horsemen of all ages to come together and compete for $500 in added money, with belt buckles awarded to the winners of four separate events.

With a start time of 6:30 p.m., there is a $20 entry fee along with a one-time $10 grounds maintenance fee. Participants will have to contend with three barrels and three jumps.

For more information or to sign up in advance, contact Jerry Lunde at (951) 212-2238.



FINISH LINES: Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally is recovering from a broken ankle suffered in a recent fall at his Tarzana home. A plate and nine screws were inserted during surgery last Monday, according to McAnally’s long-time assistant, Dan Lander McAnally, who will be 86 on July 11, trained two-time Horse of the Year John Henry in addition to champions Bayakoa, Northern Spur, Paseana and Tight Spot . . . Trainer Kenny Black was both relieved and elated after What a View led throughout the Grade III American Stakes yesterday, winning by a neck at 6-1. “From everything he’d been showing me, I thought he’d run his race, but you don’t know until they do it,” said Black, who now has the Grade I Shoemaker Mile May 28 on his radar, in addition to the Crystal Water for California-breds on May 20. “We’d be 1-5 in the Crystal Water and 15-1 in the Shoemaker,” Black said . . . With four wins Saturday, Flavien Prat moved to within one of Spring Meet leader Stewart Elliott at six to five. Tiago Pereira, Geovanni Franco and Drayden Van Dyke are deadlocked with four wins each . . . Working before sunrise under Martin Pedroza for Bill Spawr, Santa Anita Oaks winner Midnight Bisou went five furlongs in 1:01.60 as the daughter of Midnight Lute prepares for the prestigious Kentucky Oaks on May 4. Midnight Bisou galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60. In all, there were 193 recorded workouts at Santa Anita Sunday, including 14 on the training track . . . Probable for next Saturday’s Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares, three and up at 1 ½ miles on turf: Causeforcommotion, Evin Roman; Estrechada, Flavien Prat; Fahan Mura, Stewart Elliott; Plein Air, Tyler Baze; and Responsibleforlove, Drayden Van Dyke . . . Demigoddess, a four-year-old gray daughter of First Dude trained by Charlie Stutts for owner Bryan Carney, makes her 11th start at Santa Anita since Jan. 1 in today’s second race, an average of about one start every nine days. Her best showing was a second at 46-1 on Jan. 21 . . . Jockey Franklin Ceballos and apprentice Edgar Payeras have been suspended four days (April 28, 29, May 3 and 4) and three days (April 28, 29 and May 3), respectively, for riding infractions on R Cha Cha and Man O Work on Friday . . . Santa Anita will be dark for live racing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week, resuming live racing on Thursday, April 26, at 12 noon, but will be open for simulcast racing Wednesday, with free parking and free general admission. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.